ImmunoCARE: Rapid, Accurate COVID Testing to Reduce Hospitalization of Immunocompromised Individuals

The investigators will examine whether a combination of at-home nucleic acid amplification tests, on-demand telemedicine, and delivery of prescriptions such as Paxlovid quickly after testing positive for COVID-19, can reduce severe outcomes and hospitalization of immunocompromised patients and those who are 65 years and older. They will also analyze whether these efforts lower the cost of care compared to standard of care.

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: HIV Infections; Lymphoma; Leukemia; Cancer; Multiple Myeloma; Immunosuppression; Immunodeficiency; Transplant; Graft Versus Host Disease; Age-Related Immunodeficiency
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Access to Cue Health COVID-19 Remote testing and treatment for COVID-19

Detailed Description

This study is a randomized control trial with 10,000 participants. Participation will last for a minimum of 3 months and maximum of 8 months, depending upon COVID-19 case rates. Half of participants will be randomized to the control group and continue their existing testing and healthcare practices. The remaining participants will be randomized into the intervention arm. Participants in the intervention will receive one Cue Cartridge Reader for the duration of the study and up to 10 Cue COVID Molecular tests per month for their own use and to share with others in their household. In the case that a Cue Flu+COVID Molecular Test is available through FDA EUA or other authorization, participants may be provided this multiplex test in lieu of the Cue COVID Molecular Test. All intervention participants will be asked to test themselves if they are exposed or when symptoms arise and share tests with members of their household who are exposed to COVID or symptoms arise. The primary outcome will be the number of hospitalizations. This study will also compare infection rates, ICU admissions, deaths, and cost of care between the control and intervention group. The hypothesis is that access to high sensitivity portable molecular testing and subsequent telemedicine and prescription delivery can significantly decrease hospitalization and thereby the cost of care.

Interested individuals will access the study via the MyDataHelps platform by web or app to complete the eligibility and informed consent process. Within the MyDataHelps experience, participants will complete study activities such as surveys and sharing of claims data. Participants who are randomized to the intervention group will have the option to use Cue Care should they test positive for COVID-19. Cue Care contracts licensed Healthcare providers to deliver telemedicine and treatment for COVID-19. In the case that the COVID Flu+COVID test is available, the intervention group will also have the option to use Cue Care should they test positive for Influenza.

To learn more and take the eligibility survey, visit https://ImmunoCARE.scripps.edu/

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 2117
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • California
    • La Jolla, California, United States, 92037
      • Scripps Research

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 120 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Living in the United States
• 18 years or older
• Can read and understand English
• Use of smartphone with bluetooth, a camera and a compatible operating system (Android OS 9.0 or higher, Apple iOS 13.0 or higher)
• Vaccinated against COVID-19 (completed at least the initial course, e.g. at least 2 doses of -Moderna or Pfizer, one dose of J&J)

• Willing and able to participate in study interventions including:

  1. Use of smartphone, including camera and bluetooth
  2. Upload verification of diagnosis, if needed
  3. Completing Surveys
  4. Use of Cue Health App
  5. Use of MyDataHelps Web or App

• Immunocompromised due to disease or therapy, including:

  1. Symptomatic HIV
  2. Graft versus host disease
  3. Immunoglobulin deficiency/Immunodeficiency
  4. Immunosuppressive therapy
  5. Leukemia
  6. Lymphoma (Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin)
  7. Metastatic Cancer
  8. Multiple Myeloma
  9. Solid organ malignancy
  10. Transplant, hematopoietic stem cell
  11. Transplant, solid organ
• Age 1. 65 years and older

Option if under 65 to share claims data as a member of one of the following insurance providers:

1. Anthem BlueCross and BlueShield
2. Anthem BlueCross
3. Empire BlueCross BlueShield
4. Empire BlueCross
5. Wellpoint
6. Carelon
7. Unicare
8. Simply Healthcare Plans
9. National Government Services, Inc.
10. MMM
11. Health Sun
12. HealthLink
13. Amerigroup
14. Medicare
15. Medicaid
16. Or another partner that can provide claims data on participant's behalf

Exclusion Criteria:

-Unable to meet inclusion criteria

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Other: Intervention Arm; Participants in this group will complete the baseline study activities, as described above. Additionally, participants will be instructed to create a Cue Health account and download the Cue Health App. Using the app and the 10 Cue Health COVID-19 molecular tests that are provided (or Cue Health Flu+COVID molecular tests if available and FDA authorized), the participant will perform tests after exposure or if symptoms arise. Participants can also use the test for close contacts who are exposed to COVID-19 and/or have symptoms. If COVID-19 infection occurs, participants will have access to telemedicine to discuss further with a healthcare professional. When clinically indicated, medication for the treatment of COVID-19 (and/or Influenza in case of Cue Health Flu+COVID test availability) will be prescribed and delivered to the participants' delivery address. Participants can also seek care through other healthcare providers or not seek care, at their discretion.	Other: Access to Cue Health COVID-19 Remote testing and treatment for COVID-19; Participants will receive at home COVID-19 test for themselves and others in their household.
No Intervention: Control Arm; Participants in the control group will complete the baseline study activities, as described above. If symptoms arise or COVID-19 infection occurs, participants will test and seek care as they normally would.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of Participants With Hospitalizations Including COVID Medications	In claims data COVID hospital admissions were defined as: claim type is "HOSP" or "Institutional" or location display contains "inpatient" with COVID diagnosis or COVID procedure or COVID medication in the same medical episode. In survey data, participants were asked to self-report COVID hospitalizations.	During study participation (on average 12 months)
Cost of Care	Investigators will compare the cost of care for COVID-19 infections between the control and intervention arms.	During study participation (on average 12 months)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Scripps Translational Science Institute
• Collaborators: Cue Health

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• Study website

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 22, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 20, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): June 20, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 9, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 16, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): December 19, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 8, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 23, 2025
• Last Verified: July 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: COVID-19; Immunocompromised; Medicare; Medicaid; Advanced Age
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Vascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Neoplasms; Immune System Diseases; Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Hematologic Diseases; Lymphoproliferative Disorders; Immunoproliferative Disorders; Neoplasms, Plasma Cell; Hemostatic Disorders; Paraproteinemias; Blood Protein Disorders; Hemorrhagic Disorders; Multiple Myeloma; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes; Graft vs Host Disease
• Other Study ID Numbers: IRB-22-8082

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No